Selecting and hiring a qualified editor for your dissertation is critical to the favorable submission you desire. Some criteria for this task include: a solid working knowledge of English grammar; access to a plethora of interesting and appropriate vocabulary; the mindset that their job is not to re-do your hard work, but to restate information for better flow as needed; referring often to the editing tool set by the university/board of examiners for citing sources, and all formatting issues.

Solid Working Knowledge of English Grammar

Because your grader is first to notice any of these errors, your entry must be grammatically correct. And let’s remember spelling and correct punctuation come in this category as well. To fulfill this requirement, someone with experience in teaching English, preferably to upper level high school students and college students is ideal. An added bonus for consideration is the English professor who has taught advanced composition where the proper nuts and bolts of writing are expected.

Access to a Plethora of Varied Vocabulary

Of course a thesaurus is usually a source of help in this area. In large part, the main focus is to present descriptive verbs when appropriate instead of the constant variations from the “to be” family. A well-read individual characterizes another possible choice for editor.

Only a Restatement of the Work for Better Flow

On the heels of the topic of vocabulary use, comes this essential item. Editors must remember the piece before them is not their own work, but if awkward phrasing, unclear transitions, or a general need for clarity are present they must remedy them. Either by suggesting alternatives or making the changes and indicate said alterations. Material in the chapters of the dissertation needs to flow smoothly, in addition to being logically organized and consistent. For example, if the writer states in the opening the discussion will be on points A, B, and C in chapters 1, 2, and 3, but instead goes in a completely different direction, the editor should identify the inconsistency and recommend ways to correct it.

Referring to the University’s Tool for Formatting and Citing Sources

It is imperative that authors pay strict attention to their institution’s formatting and citing requirements. Some schools have their own version of the basic MLA, APA, or Turabian styles guides. A good editor can adapt their skills to these.

Like the papers and essays of high school…and possibly earlier…dissertations must demonstrate organization. A project of this length normally divides into chapters. And although the quantity of chapters may vary, the contents usually include an introduction, possibly a survey of existing literature on the topic, a chapter containing the hypothesis and methods, several chapters detailing any research, followed by a concluding chapter summing up the work and offering suggestions for further research. A professional editor ensures these chapters stay on the topic, then weave together to develop a cohesive final product.

Thus the bottom line in writing begins in elementary school when the individual is very young: an introduction, body – points for discussion, and the conclusion – restatement or proof of the validity of your introduction. And so a valid editor, without question, could be an experienced English teacher. After all your board of examiners were probably English and/or writing teachers at one time.

A good editor always trusts in superior tools .Top editors and universities across the United States place their trust in Grammarly grammar checker a user-friendly topically adjusted grammar tool.